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May 31, 2017

May 31, 2017

Howard County friends, a question. Could you imagine if this was an actual sign posted outside a restaurant near one of Howard County's largest high schools? Or any school, for that matter:

Brown water? Really? Do we have that problem in Howard County? Because if we do, I haven't heard of it.

So in Howard County, parents and the community successfully fought the mold problem. In Baltimore County, parents and community members are angry over a much broader, and sadly, much more fundamental, series of issues.

I believe the inability of Baltimore County to provide sufficient air conditioning for its schools has already been an issue of record. It's been a regional issue for the last couple years now. But, from my friends all over BaltCo, come the following concerns:

-- Days where schools are supposed to be closed and/or excused early due to heat, but they are not;

-- Yellow to brown water at multiple high schools, such as Franklin, Dulaney, and Sparrows Point, as well as at a number of elementary schools;

-- The overall decrepit and deteriorating nature of BaltCo school buildings

This is horrible. And doubtless among the reasons why Dallas Dance became the first member of the Maryland Public Schools Superintendents Class of 2012 to resign back in April.

What can you, Mr. and Mrs. Baltimore County, do about these outrages? Well, if you will look here, you will see the name of your local school board member, in fact all the members, as in BaltCo, their school board members are elected by Council district (hint, hint, HoCo!). And, you will see, also on the link above, that in BaltCo, school board members are to be elected by district for the first time in 2018! Which is pretty important and pretty cool. This blog will be monitoring the Baltimore county School Board and other Baltimore County races in 2018.

I coached lacrosse in Catonsville for a few years and even farther back, I spent my early childhood in Catonsville. Instead of going to Columbia and Ellicott City as a kid, I went to Arbutus and Woodlawn for my fun. Baltimore County is a good place, with good people and definitely, a proud school system that deserves better. Please, Baltimore County friends, help make it better.